Tag Archives: alamo lake state park

With the weather getting warmer, who doesn’t want to spend more time outdoors? So gather your family and have yourself a picnic.

This spring season, consider having a picnic at one of the following locations:

Northern Arizona

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is located in Cottonwood and covers 423 acres of land that includes 10 hiking trails, 22 campground sites and two picnic areas. Situated near the Verde River, Dead Horse Ranch has abundant flora and wildlife that changes depending on the season.

Red Rock State Park is another great place to have a picnic. This park’s signature red rocks and lush greenery are the perfect scenery for having lunch outdoors. Red Rock also has many hiking trails: The Coyote Ridge Trail, Kisva Trail, Yavapai Ridge Trail, Javelina Trail and Rattlesnake Ridge, which rises above the Twin Cypress picnic area.

Slide Rock State Park, named after the slippery creep bottom nearby, is another Sedona favorite for picnicking. Aside from its nature trails, Slide Rock also has a wading and swimming area that’s perfect for cooling off. Its apple barn offers seasonal apple picking, and Slide Rock Market has snacks and picnic supplies.

Eastern Arizona

Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park is located three miles west of Superior. It features Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden, beautiful vistas, natural habits, a desert lake, picnic areas and a visitor center. This is the perfect place to admire nature while picnicking.

Another park that made this top picnic places list is named after one of Arizona’s lost gold mines. Lost Dutchman State Park is located five miles north of Apache Junction and is at the base of Superstition Mountains. Along with hiking and nature trails, picnic facilities and 35 campsites are offered throughout the year.

Southern Arizona

Patagonia Lake is a popular spot to have a picnic. Camping sites are offered depending on how much you want to rough it. They range from undeveloped spots to places with running water and electricity. Patagonia includes picnic ramadas, a swimming beach and a boat rental store.

Roper Lake State Park is another great place for a picnic. There are two sections to the park: Roper Lake and Dankworth Pond. Roper offers a 30-acre lake, a natural stone hot tub, an island, a beach and campsites. Dankworth Pond has picnic ramadas, an Indian village and a playground.

Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is part park, part museum. It has a gift shop, a museum inside the courthouse and a courtyard. The courtyard is a perfect spot to have a picnic after exploring the park and exhibits.

Western Arizona

Alamo Lake State Park is located about 40 miles north of Wenden. The lake is a great fishing spot and is known for its large mouth bass. There are many outdoor activities to enjoy at Alamo Lake, such as wildlife watching, hiking amongst beautiful scenery, and, of course, picnicking. Alamo Lake State Park has an amazing view of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

Encanto Park, also known as Enchanted Island, is a beautiful urban oasis that’s perfect for a family picnic. This 222-acre park offers children rides, pedal boating, a lake and scenic views. Enjoy your picnic under the many ramadas or pick a spot near the water.

Fountain Hills Park has large oak trees that are perfect for spreading a picnic blanket under. Watch the majestic, world-famous fountain while having lunch. Other features of Fountain Hills Park include a playground, 35-acres of turf, a lake and many picnic tables and benches.

Novice stargazers and expert astronomers alike are welcome to Alamo Lake State Park’s Fourth Annual Night Under the Stars on Nov. 6.

Since Alamo Lake State Park is almost 30 miles from the nearest town, the park offers dark skies that have some of the best unaided views of celestial objects such as the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies.

Not only will attendees will be able to gaze through telescopes set up for their use, but they’ll also have a chance to view an astral photography demonstration put on by JD Maddy, president of the Astronomers of Verde Valley.

At 10 p.m., Maddy will provide an overview of how he captures images of nebulas and celestial bodies using a telescope, a computer and a digital SLR camera.